ACTIVISM

12.16.11

Christian Bale Roughed Up in China

CNN

Christian Bale isn’t Batman in rural China. The actor was pushed around and punched by Chinese guards when he attempted to visit a government critic with CNN on Friday. "I am here to see Chen Guangcheng,” Bale announced before dozens of guards in military-style dress attacked him. "Why can I not visit this free man?" he asked as the guards began throwing punches and trying to steal his camera. He retreated with the CNN team, and they say they were chased by a gray van at a high speed for 40 minutes. Chen, who Bale calls his hero, is a blind, self-taught lawyer and advocate for victims of China’s family-planning policies.